Thornton l



(No Model.)

T. L. RICHARDSON.

` LOCK.

No. 597,021. .Patented Jam 11, i898.

Nrrnn STATESv Pn'rniv'r erica,

THORNTON I.. RICHARDSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE N. IVATERBURY, OF STANFORD,

OONNECTIOUT.

LOCK.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,023., dated January 1 1, 1898.

Application led January 11, 1897. Serial No. 618,846. (No model.)

To atlwhom z5 may concern:

Beit known that l, THORNTON L. RICHARD-` SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lliashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tumbler-Locks; and I do de clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica tion.

My invention relates to locks, and more particularly to tumbler-locks.

It has for its object to produce such a lock in which the tumblers can be adjusted to fit different keys without dismembering the parts or taking the lock from its place and in which the change can be readily made, so that the different keys can be substituted as occasion or desirability may require.

It has also for its object to simplify the construction of such a lock, so that the same exactness is not required in the formation of the parts as in other locks of the same type, and in which the cost of manufacture will be greatly reduced and the likelihood of any of the parts getting out of operative condition will be reduced to the minimum.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other obj ects as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter particularly described,and then sought to be specifically deiined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which* Figure l, is a side View of the face of the lock with a portion of its front plate broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the bolt in its locked position and the other parts correspondingly adjusted. Fig. 3 is a view of the rear face of the lock. Fig. 4 is a face View of the rear plate, showing the lock-bolt in full lines and the key spindle or hub in crossfsection. Fig. 5 are detail views of one of the tumblers, one of the fences, the looking-nut, and the key spindle or hub. Fig..

6 `is a transverse section on the line 6 5 of Fig. l; and Fig. 7 represents a series of keys, the rst one to the left being blank and the others illustrating keys with different bits, and also showingaplan View of the pin used for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

In the drawings the numeral l designates' the rear plate of the lock-case, and 2 designates the lock-bolt. This bolt is formed with a slot 3, in which fits a stud 4c, projecting from the plate 1, so as to guide the bolt in its sliding movement. Itis also formed with a slot 5, through which passes the clamping-screw hereinafter mentioned, so as to permit the bolt to slide, and it is also formed with another slot 6, which serves to receive the pin hereinafter mentioned and employed for the purpose of picking up the fences in changing from one key to another should any of the parts accidentally slip in making the change. It is further formed with a recess 7 in one edge,de signed to receive the tongue on the key-hub, so that said tongue may bear against the bolt for the purpose of throwing it back and forth. It also has a lip or projection 8 on one side, designed to bear against an insertible pin hereinafter m entioned,so as to limit the throw of the bolt during the operation of changing the adjustment of the parts to adapt them to receive a key-with a different arrangement of bits.

The tumblers, of which any desired number may be employed, but only four of which are illustrated, are designated by the numeral 9. Each tumbler has a slot lO to receive the fence ll, a fence being provided foreach tumbler. Each fence is formed with a tongue 12, adapted to enter the slot 1S inthe tumbler when said slot and tongue are in register with each other-for instance, when the bolt is retracted, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. When the bolt is projected into its locking position, the tongues of the several fences will bea r against the shoulders l4,with which the several tumblers are formed, so as to lock the bolt against retraction until the proper key is employed to lift the tuinblers, so that their slots 13 will be in register with the tongues l2 of the fences, when the bolt may be retracted. Each fence is formed IOO `with an opening 15, through which the clamping-screw 16 will pass, and each tumbler is formed with a curved slot 17, through which will pass a pin 18, which projects from one face of the bolt 2. By this means the tumblers are moved back and forth with the movement of the bolt. These curved slots in the several tumblers permit the tu mblers to oscillate, as upon a pivot, and also cause the tumblers to move back and forth with the bolt by reason of the pin 18 bearing against their walls. The slots also permit a slight movement of the tumblers in the arc of a circlein turning the key, thus avoiding bendu ing of the parts. Each tumbler is under the influence of a spring 19, said spring being attached at one end to the tumbler, while its other end will bear against the pin 20, projecting from the inside of plate 1 of the lockcase.

The several tumblers and fences are held together by a clamping-screw 16, which has a kerfed head 21, that is exposed on the outside ofthe plate 1, said clamping-screw toward threads 22, which will engage with threads formed in the opening 23 of the nut-plate 24, the remaining portions of the screw being unthreaded, so as to permit the free turning of the fences thereon in the operation of readjusting the parts to fit the different keys.

The nut-plate 24: is formed with two shoulders 25, adapted in the two extreme movements of the nut-plate to be brought against the pin 26, which projects from the insideof the front plate to the lock-case, so that said nut-plate will belirnited in its two movements by this pin, the pin thus affording a stop or bearing for the nut-plate, so as to enable the clamping-screw 16, which is threaded in the nut plate, to be screwed or unscrewed in clamping and unclamping the fences. The nut-plate is under the inlluence of a spring 26, which at one end is connected to the nutplate and at the other end bears against the stud 20, as illustrated clearly in Fig. l of the drawings. This spring holds the nutfplate and also the fences in their normal adjusted position and yet permits a yielding of the nutplate and fences under certain conditions if for any reason the bit of the key should not it with strict eXactness, and thus binding of the parts is prevented.

The numeral 27 designates the slotted hub or spindle which receives the manipulating key, and it is Vprovided at one end with the usual head or face 28, which will lie practically iush with the front plate of the lock-case, as usual, while the free end will have its bearing in the rear plate of the case. This hub or spindle is provided with a tongue 29,which will iitin the slot 7 of the bolt and bear against the bolt, so as to move it back and forth. In order to prevent the key from being withdrawn from the lock except when the bolt is thrown into its locking position, I provide a pin 30 to the rear of the tongue 29, so as to stop one end being formed with screw-y the backward movement of said tongue and thus prevent the key from being turned so far as to enable it to be withdrawn from the lock when the bolt is in its retracted or unlocked position. This pin passes through an opening in the rear plate to the lock-case and is attached to a suitable spring 31, which is se cured to the rear plate of the case and which normally keeps the pin projected into the path 29 of the key-spindle. This pin is adapted to be withdrawn from the path of the tongue 29 when it is desired to withdraw the key while the bolt is in its retracted or unlocked position when the t'umblers and fences are to be `readj usted .to the fitting of a differentkey. One end of this stop-pin is beveled in a direction which will enable the tongue 29 to slide upon the end of the pin when a new key is to be inserted for the purpose of adjusting the tumblcrs thereto, the tongue 29 at such time being on the outer side of said pininstead of on the inside, as when in its normal position. This construction also enables the pin to be retracted by the tongue 29 coming in contact therewith in bringing said tongue to its normal position next to the bolt of the lock, and it also serves to indicate to the operator when the key has been brought into the proper position where the tumblers and fences can be adjusted to the new key, inasmuch as the click of the pin made by the spring 31 throwing it into normal position will indicate to the ear of the operator that the key is in proper position for adjustment of the tumblers and fences thereto.

It will be observed that the sides of the fences 11 taper from the rear toward the front.

This makes the fences sufficiently narrower le than the width of the slots 10 in the tumblers as to permit the tumblers to be oscillated about the 'fences when their tongues 12 lie back of the slots 13 in the tumblers. It is to be noticed, too, that the fences lie wholly within orare inclosed by the tumblers. It will be observed that each fence is provided with an opening or slot 32, the opposite walls of which are curved, as shown, so that by the insertion of the pin 32' therein and moving the same along the curved wall of the slot 32 the fences can be raised or lowered for the purpose of picking up the tumblers, as hereinafter described, in case any of the parts should accidentally slip in changing the adj ustm ent of the several parts for the reception of a different key. It is also to be observed that the nut-plate 24 is provided with a slot 33 to receive said pin in the same operation and also that for the insertion of said pin the rear faceplate of the lockcase is provided with a slot 34. Another purpose of the pin 32 is its employment to limit the outward throw of the bolt in the operation of adjusting the tumblers to a diiderent key, for which purpose the rear 'plate of the lockcase is formed with a hole 35, so that the pin 32can be passed through said hole and brought into the path of the projection S on the bolt, so

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that when said projection comes in contact with said pin the bolt will be stopped in its outward movement at a point just before the tongues 12 of the fences are brought entirely out of the slots 13 in the tumblers 9. This will permit the tumblers to be thrown down by their springs into engagement with the key-hub and the fences will drop into their new relations to the tumblers and the bits of the key. The clamping-screw is then tightened, so as to clamp the fences in their new position, and the pin 32 is withdrawn and the several parts are in proper position for operation under their new adjustment to the new key. lf the bolt were allowed to be projected to its full extent before the clamping of the fences in their new positions, the tumblers being projected so far as to entirely leave the tongues 12 of the fences out of the slots 13 in the tumblers, the tongues 12 would be deprived of the support afforded by the walls of the slots 13, and, being entirely within the slots 10 of the tumblers, the tumblers would drop to their lowest position without carrying the fences with them, and consequently the fences would not be adjusted to the proper position in relation to the tumblers, and hence when the tumblers should be raised a register would not be effected between the tongues of the fences and the slots 13 in the tumblers, and therefore the tumblers could not be operated. This being the case it would be necessary to pick up the fences and hold them in position in line with each other and with the slots 13 in the tumblers until the tumblers could be moved by turning the key-hub so as to bring the tongues of the fences into the slots 13. This picking up of the fences would be effected by the insertion of the pin 32 through the slot 34 and through the slots32 in the different fences and into the slot 33 of the nut-plate 24 and then moving the pin sidewise until the tongues of the fences would be brought into line with each other and register with the slots 13 of the tumblers, after which the tumblers would be moved by turning the key-hub until the tongues of the fences shall be brought into the slots 13 of the tumblers. The pin 32 is then inserted through the opening 35. The key is next inserted in the hub and turned to partially project the bolt, and then the clam ping-screw 16 is tightened, so as to clamp the fences in their position, thus leaving the parts in their operative position and adj usted to the new key. This picking up of the tumblers in the event of an accidental slipping of one of the parts or the withdrawal of the pin 32 from the hole 35 before properly securing the parts, it will be observed, can be effected without removing the lock from its position and without dismembering any parts of the lock and is one of the important features of the invention.

The two parts of the lock-case will be held together by means of screws, and the lock will be held in place by means of screws passing through the holes 36. n

The operation of changing the combination or of altering the position of the tumblers and fences, so as to enable a different key to be used over that previously employed, is as follows: The bolt is retracted into its unlocked position, the spring 3l is drawn back, so as to withdraw the stop-pin 30 from behind the tongue 29 of the key hub or spindie, so as to permit the tongue to pass the pin in carrying the key around into position to be withdrawn from the lock while the bolt is in its retracted position, and the key is withdrawn and a different key inserted and turned backward, and as it brings the tongue 29 against the beveled surface of the stop-pin 30 said pin is pressed backward and the tongue 29 brought into the position illustrated in Fig. 4C of the drawings, the clicking of the pin indicating that the key is in position to have the tumblers adjusted to its bits. The pin 32 is then inserted through the hole 35 in the rear plate of the lock-case. The key is then turned so as to project the bolt until its projection 8 strikes .against the pin 32, which stops the outward movement of the bolt and leaves the tongues of the fences partially within the slots 13 of the tumblers. The clamping-screw 16 is then loosened, whereupon the tuinblers are moved, under the iniiuence of their springs, carrying with them the fences, to the new adjustment corresponding to the bits of the new key. The clamping-screw is then tightened, so as to clamp the fences to their new adjustment, and the pin 32' is withdrawn and the parts are then ready for operation under the new key.

It will be observed that the adjustment from one key to another is made without removing the lock or any of its parts and that in the event of there being an accidental slipping of any of the parts, due to the forgetfulness for the moment of the operator, the fences can be picked up and brought into proper relation to the tumblers for effecting adjustment without detaching any of the parts. It is also to be remarked that` owing to the construction of the parts as described there need not be so exact register of all the parts as under previous constructions, inasmuch as there can be slight variations and still the parts be enabled to be quickly adjusted to their new relations. y

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have illustrated a blank key (designated by the numeral 37) and three other keys, (designated by the numerals 39, 10, and 41,) each one of which is of the same general type, but each different from the others in the formation of its bits. This number is given simply as an illustration of the changes that can be made to different keys; but it is obvious that the parts may be multiplied, so that there may be many other combinations, and while I have illustrated only four tumblers and a correspond- TIO ing number of fences it is obvious that the number can be varied.

I have described ywith particularity what I consider to be the preferred details of yconstruction of each part and arrangement of the several parts; but'it is to be understood that changes can be made in such details and yet the essential features of the invention still be employed.

It may be mentioned at this point that under the construction described no key can be Withdrawn from the lock without throwing the bolt into its locked position unless access be had to the rear plate of the lock-case, so as to manipulate the spring Which controlsy the stop-pin 30, and consequently the possibility of closing the door to which the Vlock is applied and removing the key Without loc k ing the door is practically prevented.

It may also be mentioned that while any one form of key may be employed to throw the bolt into locking position yet no other key than the one towhich the tumblers and fences have been adjusted can be used for the purpose of retracting the bolt so as to unlock the same.

The several parts are simple in their con struction and arrangement and comparatively inexpensive to construct and to assemble.

Having described y1n y invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

,1. In a tumbler-lock, the combination with the bolt, of tumblers movable with the bolt and each formed with a main slot to receive a fence and a minor slot communicating with it to receive a portion of the fence, fences itting within the main slots to the tumblers and having portions to enter the minor slots in the tumblers'and When the bolt is projected to lie in the main slots to one side of the minor slots, and means for clamping the fences in their adjustment relatively to the tumblers and for releasing them to permit adjustment of the parts in changing from one key to another, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a tumbler-lock, the combination with the bolt, of tumblers movable With the bolt,

each formed with a slot to receive a pin projecting from the bolt and with a main slot to receive a fence and a minor slot to receive a portion of the fence, fences fitting Within the main slots to the tumblers and formed to have a portion enter the minor slots in the tumblers and When the bolt is projected to lie in the main slots to one side of the minor slots, and means for clamping the fences in their adjustment relatively to the tumblers and for releasing them to permit adjustment of the parts in changing from one key to another, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a tumbler-lock, the combination With the bolt, of tumblers movable With the bolt, each formed with a main slot t'o receive a fence and a minor slot to receive a portion of the fence, fences fitting Within the main slots and formed to have a portion enter the minor slots in the tumblers, a clamping-screw for holding the fences in their adjustment relatively to the tumblers and for releasing them to permit adjustment of the parts in changing from one key to another, a nut-plateto receive said screw, and a stop to restrict the movement of said nut-plate in tightening and loosening said screw, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a tumbler-lock, the combination `with the bolt, of tumblersand fences to control the movement of the bolt, and a movable stop in its normal position preventing the complete revolution of the key so as to normally prevent the key being removed While the bolt is retracted and. capable of withdrawal from the path of the key mechanism to permit Withdrawal ofthe ykey when the bolt is retracted and the parts are to be adjusted to a different key, substantially as and for the purposes described'.

5. In a tumbler-lock, the combination With the bolt formed with a projection on one side, of tumblers and fences to control the movement of the bolt, the lock-casing formed With an opening in linewith the side projection on the bolt, and an insertible pin adapted to be passed through the opening in the lock-casing to limit'the outward throw of the bolt While adjustment of the parts is being effected and to be Withdrawn through said opening, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a tumbler-lock, the combination with the bolt, of tumblers and fences to control the movement of the bolt, the lock-casing formed with an opening to permit access to the fences, and means operating on the fences through said opening to enable the fences to be picked up from the outside of the lock in the event of the tumblers and fences being displaced from operative relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. In a tumbler-lock, the combination With the bolt of the tumblers, the fences each formed with a slot, the clamping-screw for holding the fences in their adjustment relatively to the tumblers and for releasing them to permit adjustment of the parts in changing from one key to another, a nut-plate to receive said soreT and formed with a slot adapted to-be brought into register with the slots in the fences, and the lock-Casin g form ed with an opening for the insertion of an instrument to be passed into the slots in the fences and nut-plate for the purpose of picking up7 the fences in the event of their displacement from operative relation to the tumblers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In a tumbler-lock, the combination With the bolt, of tumblers and fences to control the movement of the bolt, said tumblers being formed With slots to inclose the fences IOO and adapted to oseillate about the fences, and fences pivotally sustained Within said slots, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a tumbler-lock, the combination with the bolt, of spring-actuated tmnblers movable with the bolt and each formed With a curved slot to receive a pin projecting* from the bolt whereby the tumblers may have an oscillatory as well as a lateral movement about the pin in said slot, fences fitting Within the tumblers and adapted to be adjusted to different keys, and means for clamping the fences to their adjustment, substantially as and for the purposes described.

l0. In a tumbler-lock, the combination with THORNTON L. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

MELVILLE M. MERRILL, WM. G. HENDERSON. 

